Bed and… Beer? At 42 North Brewing, You Can Spend the Night at a Brewery

Have you ever visited a brewery, fell in love with it, and thought “I wish I could stay here”? Well, at 42 North Brewing Company in East Aurora, New York, you can do just that. The most recent expansion of the craft brewery includes The Lofts at 42 North, four rooms available to book for overnight stays. The moment I found out about them, I knew I had to plan a visit.

Thank you to owner John Cimperman for inviting us to the 42 North Brew Campus and giving us a tour of the property.

About 42 North Brewing Company

At its heart, 42 North pays homage to its location and its history. Named after the 42 parallel that it sits on, it shares a latitude with some of the best hop-growing regions in the world – including New York state itself! In fact, the region of Cooperstown was one of the biggest producers of hops in the US for centuries.

Adventure, outdoors, and rugged authenticity are the core inspiration for the brewery. The Cimpermans love to incorporate nearby hiking trails and outdoor activities into the 42 North brand. And the beer is a reflection of that as well. The core beers at 42 North are very classic styles, which all represent local landmarks.

42 North operates on a 20-barrel system, and (spoiler alert) you can watch the brewers behind the scenes from one of the loft rooms! In addition to their core line of beers, they create seasonal specials and several barrel-aged varieties. Most recently, they’ve joined the hard seltzer phenomenon as the only craft brewery in the Buffalo area to make their own.

The Brewery and Taproom

42 North was established in 2015, but stepping foot inside the taproom brings you back in time. The ambiance of the building is cozy and comforting, with the feeling that you’re in an old pub. With the brick facades and wooden beams, you’d be shocked to discover that the building was once a modern warehouse. All of the buildings materials were brought in during the reconstruction of another local landmark: the Buffalo Asylum. You’ll even notice the table legs and spindles on the railings made from old rebar taken from the building. On a wall in the back corner, you’ll even find artwork of the asylum created on a plank of wood taken from it.

42 Below Barrel House

Located in another building behind the brewhouse is the 42 Below Barrel House – the only dedicated barrelhouse in Western New York. The historic stone-block basement not only stores the barrels, but is also available to rent for private events. Throughout the pandemic, 42 North invited local artists to come and perform at the barrel house roughly every 6 weeks. You’ll notice that many of the barrels now have signatures on them commemorating the performances.

The beer is aged in a variety of barrels: cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, bourbon, and even krupnik. What’s krupnik? Good question. As a person of proud Polish heritage, I’m embarrassed to say that I didn’t know what krupnik was until John explained it to me. A drink that is very common in Buffalo, krupnik is a liqueur that originated in the region that is now Belarus, and popular in Poland and Lithuania. It is made from a vodka made from honey and spices. Sounds delicious, right?

The Lofts at 42

What’s the only thing that could make any brewery better than it already is? A place for you to spend the night! Which is exactly what you can do at The Lofts at 42. Located right on the 42 North brewery campus, the 4 lofts are each themed after something significant in Buffalo. Plus, all four rooms have windows overlooking the brewing floor and a door opening up to the biergarten! How cool is that?! Guests at the lofts also receive free beer with their stay. Need I say more?

Choose from the following, all available to book through AirBnB:

Prohibition Suite – themed after the Roaring 20s style, complete with the famous Prohibition photo and beer “locked” in a safe.

Queen City Room – representative of Buffalo’s industrial history, full of modern industrial charm.

Borderland Room – filled with guitars and musical artwork, this room showcases the famous Buffalo music and arts festival.

Hopland Room – paying homage to the brewing history of New York, this room is also ADA accessible and dog-friendly!

Fat Bob’s Smokehouse

One of the most commonly asked questions at any brewery: Is there food available? The answer at 42 North is yes! And it’s freakin’ delicious. Fat Bob’s Smokehouse has a kitchen within the taproom at 42 North featuring all you favorite BBQ classics. I recommend…. everything. It’s so tasty! Make sure you bring your appetite when you visit the brewery.

The 42 North Vagabond Society

Love 42 North? Become a vagabond! The 42 North Vagabond Society is comprised of “the wanderers, the travelers, and the drifters… who know no boundaries when it comes to beer.” Members of this exclusive mug club get access to special beer releases, invitations to private events, and member-exclusive discounts and draft beers. (Yes, there is a tap dedicated to a secret, member-only beer every Wednesday at the taproom.)

Events at 42 North

In addition to the barrel jams throughout the warmer months, there is always something going on at 42 North. Live music, open mic nights, trivia, holiday markets and more fill the calendar. Building the East Aurora community is another one of the core missions of 42 North.

So next time you’re looking for the perfect place for a weekend getaway, consider booking a night or two at 42 North Brewing in East Aurora. With great beer, delicious food, games, live music, and awesome rooms to stay in, what more could you want?